The National Information Infrastructure-Agenda for Action

8/6/2019 The National Information Infrastructure-Agenda for Action

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THE NATIONAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE:AGENDA FOR ACTION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary Tab A

The NII: Agenda for Action Tab B

Benefits and Application Examples Tab C

Information Infrastructure Task Force Tab D

U.S. Advisory Council on the NII Tab E

NII Accomplishments to Date Tab F

Key Contacts Tab G


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TAB A


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THE NATIONAL INFORMATION INFRASTRAGENDA FOR ACTION

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

All Americans have a stake in the construction of anadvanced National Information Infrastructure (NII), a seamless

web of communications networks, computers, databases, andconsumer electronics that will put vast amounts of information atusers' fingertips. Development of the NII can help unleash aninformation revolution that will change forever the way peoplelive, work, and interact with each other:

o People could live almost anywhere they wanted, withoutforegoing opportunities for useful and fulfillingemployment, by "telecommuting" to their offices through anelectronic highway;

o The best schools, teachers, and courses would be available

to all students, without regard to geography, distance,resources, or disability;

o Services that improve America's health care system andrespond to other important social needs could be availableon-line, without waiting in line, when and where you neededthem.

Private sector firms are already developing and deployingthat infrastructure today. Nevertheless, there remain essentialroles for government in this process. Carefully craftedgovernment action will complement and enhance the efforts of theprivate sector and assure the growth of an information

infrastructure available to all Americans at reasonable cost. Indeveloping our policy initiatives in this area, theAdministration will work in close partnership with business,labor, academia, the public, Congress, and state and localgovernment. Our efforts will be guided by the followingprinciples and objectives:

o Promote private sector investment, through appropriate taxand regulatory policies.

o Extend the "universal service" concept to ensure thatinformation resources are available to all at affordable prices.Because information means empowerment--and employment--thegovernment has a duty to ensure that all Americans have access tothe resources and job creation potential of the Information Age.

o Act as a catalyst to promote technological innovation andnew applications. Commit important government research programsand grants to help the private sector develop and demonstratetechnologies needed for the NII, and develop the applications andservices that will maximize its value to users.

o Promote seamless, interactive, user-driven operation ofthe NII. As the NII evolves into a "network of networks,"

government will ensure that users can transfer information acrossnetworks easily and efficiently. To increase the likelihood thatthe NII will be both interactive and, to a large extent, user-


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driven, government must reform regulations and policies that mayinadvertently hamper the development of interactive applications.

o Ensure information security and network reliability. TheNII must be trustworthy and secure, protecting the privacy ofits users. Government action will also ensure that the overallsystem remains reliable, quickly repairable in the event of a

failure and, perhaps most importantly, easy to use.

o Improve management of the radio frequency spectrum, anincreasingly critical resource.

o Protect intellectual property rights. The Administrationwill investigate how to strengthen domestic copyright laws andinternational intellectual property treaties to prevent piracyand to protect the integrity of intellectual property.

o Coordinate with other levels of government and with othernations. Because information crosses state, regional, and

national boundaries, coordination is critical to avoid needlessobstacles and prevent unfair policies that handicap U.S.industry.

o Provide access to government information and improvegovernment procurement. The Administration will seek to ensurethat Federal agencies, in concert with state and localgovernments, use the NII to expand the information available tothe public, ensuring that the immense reservoir of governmentinformation is available to the public easily and equitably.Additionally, Federal procurement policies for telecommunicationsand information services and equipment will be designed topromote important technical developments for the NII and to

provide attractive incentives for the private sector tocontribute to NII development.

The time for action is now. Every day brings news ofchange: new technologies, like hand-held computerizedassistants; new ventures and mergers combining businesses thatnot long ago seemed discrete and insular; new legal decisionsthat challenge the separation of computer, cable, and telephonecompanies. These changes promise substantial benefits for theAmerican people, but only if government understands fully theirimplications and begins working with the private sector and otherinterested parties to shape the evolution of the communicationsinfrastructure.

The benefits of the NII for the nation are immense. Anadvanced information infrastructure will enable U.S. firms tocompete and win in the global economy, generating good jobs forthe American people and economic growth for the nation. Asimportantly, the NII can transform the lives of the Americanpeople -- ameliorating the constraints of geography, disability,and economic status -- giving all Americans a fair opportunity togo as far as their talents and ambitions will take them.


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INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE:THE ADMINISTRATION'S AGENDA FOR ACTION

Version 1.0

I. The Promise of the NII

Imagine you had a device that combined a telephone, a TV, acamcorder, and a personal computer. No matter where you went orwhat time it was, your child could see you and talk to you, youcould watch a replay of your team's last game, you could browsethe latest additions to the library, or you could find the bestprices in town on groceries, furniture, clothes -- whatever youneeded.

Imagine further the dramatic changes in your life if:

o The best schools, teachers, and courses were availableto all students, without regard to geography, distance,

resources, or disability;

o The vast resources of art, literature, and science wereavailable everywhere, not just in large institutions orbig-city libraries and museums;

o Services that improve America's health care system and

respond to other important social needs were availableon-line, without waiting in line, when and where youneeded them;

o You could live in many places without foregoingopportunities for useful and fulfilling employment, by

"telecommuting" to your office through an electronichighway instead of by automobile, bus or train;

o Small manufacturers could get orders from all over theworld electronically -- with detailed specifications --in a form that the machines could use to produce thenecessary items;

o You could see the latest movies, play the hottest videogames, or bank and shop from the comfort of your homewhenever you chose;

o You could obtain government information directly orthrough local organizations like libraries, apply forand receive government benefits electronically, and getin touch with government officials easily; and

o Individual government agencies, businesses and otherentities all could exchange information electronically-- reducing paperwork and improving service.

Information is one of the nation's most critical economicresources, for service industries as well as manufacturing, foreconomic as well as national security. By one estimate, two-thirds of U.S. workers are in information-related jobs, and the

rest are in industries that rely heavily on information. In anera of global markets and global competition, the technologies tocreate, manipulate, manage and use information are of strategic


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importance for the United States. Those technologies will helpU.S. businesses remain competitive and create challenging, high-paying jobs. They also will fuel economic growth which, in turn,will generate a steadily-increasing standard of living for allAmericans.

That is why the Administration has launched the National

Information Infrastructure initiative. We are committed toworking with business, labor, academia, public interest groups,Congress, and state and local government to ensure thedevelopment of a national information infrastructure (NII) thatenables all Americans to access information and communicate witheach other using voice, data, image or video at anytime,anywhere. By encouraging private sector investment in the NII'sdevelopment, and through government programs to improve access toessential services, we will promote U.S. competitiveness, jobcreation and solutions to pressing social problems.

II. What Is the NII?

The phrase "information infrastructure" has an expansivemeaning. The NII includes more than just the physical facilitiesused to transmit, store, process, and display voice, data, andimages. It encompasses:

o A wide range and ever-expanding range of equipmentincluding cameras, scanners, keyboards, telephones, faxmachines, computers, switches, compact disks, video andaudio tape, cable, wire, satellites, optical fibertransmission lines, microwave nets, switches,televisions, monitors, printers, and much more.

The NII will integrate and interconnect these physicalcomponents in a technologically neutral manner so that no oneindustry will be favored over any other. Most importantly, theNII requires building foundations for living in the InformationAge and for making these technological advances useful to thepublic, business, libraries, and other nongovernmental entities.That is why, beyond the physical components of theinfrastructure, the value of the National InformationInfrastructure to users and the nation will depend in large parton the quality of its other elements:

o The information itself, which may be in the form ofvideo programming, scientific or business databases,images, sound recordings, library archives, and othermedia. Vast quantities of that information exist todayin government agencies and even more valuableinformation is produced every day in our laboratories,studios, publishing houses, and elsewhere.

o Applications and software that allow users to access,manipulate, organize, and digest the proliferating massof information that the NII's facilities will put attheir fingertips.

o The network standards and transmission codes that

facilitate interconnection and interoperation betweennetworks, and ensure the privacy of persons and thesecurity of the information carried, as well as the


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security and reliability of the networks .

o The people -- largely in the private sector -- whocreate the information, develop applications andservices, construct the facilities, and train others totap its potential. Many of these people will bevendors, operators, and service providers working for

private industry.

Every component of the information infrastructure must bedeveloped and integrated if America is to capture the promise ofthe Information Age.

The Administration's NII initiative will promote and supportfull development of each component. Regulatory and economicpolicies will be adopted that encourage private firms to createjobs and invest in the applications and physical facilities thatcomprise the infrastructure. The Federal government will assistindustry, labor, academia, and state and local governments in

developing the information resources and applications needed tomaximize the potential of those underlying facilities. Moreover,and perhaps most importantly, the NII initiative will helpeducate and train our people so that they are prepared not onlyto contribute to the further growth of the NII, but also tounderstand and enjoy fully the services and capabilities that itwill make available.

III. Need for Government Action To Complement Private SectorLeadership

The foregoing discussion of the transforming potential ofthe NII should not obscure a fundamental fact -- the private

sector is already developing and deploying such an infrastructuretoday. The United States communications system -- the conduitthrough which most information is accessed or distributed -- issecond to none in speed, capacity, and reliability. Each yearthe information resources, both hardware and software, availableto most Americans are substantially more extensive and morepowerful than the previous year.

The private sector will lead the deployment of the NII. Inrecent years, U.S. companies have invested more than $50 billionannually in telecommunications infrastructure -- and that figuredoes not account for the vast investments made by firms inrelated industries, such as computers. In contrast, theAdministration's ambitious agenda for investment in critical NIIprojects (including computing) amounts to $1-2 billion annually.Nonetheless, while the private sector role in NII developmentwill predominate, the government has an essential role to play.In particular, carefully crafted government action can complementand enhance the benefits of these private sector initiatives.Accordingly, the Administration's NII initiative will be guidedby the following nine principles and goals, which are discussedin more detail below:

1) Promote private sector investment, through tax andregulatory policies that encourage innovation and promote long-

term investment, as well as wise procurement of services.

2) Extend the "universal service" concept to ensure that


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information resources are available to all at affordable prices.Because information means empowerment, the government has a dutyto ensure that all Americans have access to the resources of theInformation Age.

3) Act as catalyst to promote technological innovation andnew applications. Commit important government research programs

and grants to help the private sector develop and demonstratetechnologies needed for the NII.

4) Promote seamless, interactive, user-driven operation ofthe NII. As the NII evolves into a "network of networks,"government will ensure that users can transfer information acrossnetworks easily and efficiently.

5) Ensure information security and network reliability.The NII must be trustworthy and secure, protecting the privacy ofits users. Government action will also aim to ensure that theoverall system remains reliable, quickly repairable in the event

of a failure and, perhaps most importantly, easy to use.

6) Improve management of the radio frequency spectrum, anincreasingly critical resource.

7) Protect intellectual property rights. TheAdministration will investigate how to strengthen domesticcopyright laws and international intellectual property treatiesto prevent piracy and to protect the integrity of intellectualproperty.

8) Coordinate with other levels of government and withother nations. Because information crosses state, regional, and

national boundaries, coordination is important to avoidunnecessary obstacles and to prevent unfair policies thathandicap U.S. industry.

9) Provide access to government information and improvegovernment procurement. As described in the National PerformanceReview, the Administration will seek to ensure that Federalagencies, in concert with state and local governments, use theNII to expand the information available to the public, so thatthe immense reservoir of government information is available tothe public easily and equitably. Additionally, Federalprocurement policies for telecommunications and informationservices and equipment will be designed to promote importanttechnical developments for the NII and to provide attractiveincentives for the private sector to contribute to NIIdevelopment.

The time for action is now. Every day brings news ofchange: new technologies, like hand-held computerizedassistants; new ventures and mergers combining businesses thatnot long ago seemed discrete and insular; new legal decisionsthat challenge the separation of computer, cable and telephones.These changes promise substantial benefits for the Americanpeople, but only if government understands fully the implicationsof these changes and to work with the private sector and other

interested parties to shape the evolution of the communicationsinfrastructure.


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IV. Managing Change/ Forging Partnerships

We will help to build a partnership of business, labor,academia, the public, and government that is committed todeployment of an advanced, rapid, powerful infrastructureaccessible and accountable to all Americans.

Forging this partnership will require extensive inter-governmental coordination to ensure that Administration,Congressional, state and local government policy regarding theNII is consistent, coherent, and timely. It also requires thedevelopment of strong working alliances among industry groups andbetween government and the businesses responsible for creatingand operating the NII. Finally, close cooperation will be neededbetween government, users, service providers, and public interestgroups to ensure that the NII develops in a way that benefits theAmerican people.

Specifically, the Administration will:

(1) Establish an interagency Information InfrastructureTask Force

The President has convened a Federal inter-agency"Information Infrastructure Task Force" (IITF) that will workwith Congress and the private sector to propose the policies andinitiatives needed to accelerate deployment of a NationalInformation Infrastructure. Activities of the IITF includecoordinating government efforts in NII applications, linkinggovernment applications to the private sector, resolvingoutstanding disputes, and implementing Administration policies.Chaired by Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown and composed of high-

level Federal agency representatives, the IITF's three committeesfocus on telecommunications policy, information policy, andapplications.

(2) Establish a private sector Advisory Council on theNational Information Infrastructure

To facilitate meaningful private sector participation in theIITF's deliberations, the President will sign an Executive Ordercreating the "United States Advisory Council on the NationalInformation Infrastructure" to advise the IITF on mattersrelating to the development of the NII. The Council will consistof 25 members, who will be named by the Secretary of Commerce byDecember 1993. Nominations will be solicited from a variety ofNII constituencies and interested parties. The IITF and itscommittees also will use other mechanisms to solicit publiccomment to ensure that it hears the views of all interestedparties.

(3) Strengthen and streamline Federal communications andinformation policy-making agencies

In order to implement the ambitious agenda outlined in thisdocument, the federal agencies most directly responsible for theevolution of the NII (such as NTIA, the Office of Information and

Regulatory Affairs at OMB, and the FCC) must be properlystructured and adequately staffed to address many new anddifficult policy issues. The Administration intends to ensure


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that these agencies have the intellectual and material resourcesthey need. In addition, in accord with the Vice President'sNational Performance Review, these agencies will make theorganizational and procedural changes needed to most effectivelycontribute to the NII initiative.V. Principles and Goals for Government Action

The Task Force currently is undertaking a wide-rangingexamination of all issues relevant to the timely development andgrowth of the National Information Infrastructure. Specificprinciples and goals in areas where government action iswarranted have already been identified and work has begun on thefollowing matters:

1. Promote Private Sector Investment

One of the most effective ways to promote investments in ournation's information infrastructure is to introduce or further

expand competition in communications and information markets.Vibrant competition in these markets will spur economic growth,create new businesses and benefit U.S. consumers.

To realize this vision, however, policy changes will benecessary:

Action: Passage of communications reform legislation. TheAdministration will work with Congress to pass legislationby the end of 1994 that will increase competition and ensureuniversal access in communications markets -- particularlythose, such as the cable television and local telephonemarkets, that have been dominated by monopolies. Such

legislation will explicitly promote private sectorinfrastructure investment -- both by companies already inthe market and those seeking entry.

Action: Revision of tax policies. Tax policies areimportant determinants of the amount of private sectorinvestment in the NII. The President has signed into lawtax incentives for private sector investment in R&D and newbusiness formation, including a three-year extension of theR&D credit and a targeted capital gains reduction forinvestments in small businesses. Both of these taxincentives will help spur the private sector investmentneeded to develop the NII.

2. Extend the "Universal Service" Concept to Ensure thatInformation Resources Are Available to All at AffordablePrices

The Communications Act of 1934 articulated in general termsa national goal of "Universal Service" for telephones --widespread availability of a basic communications service ataffordable rates. A major objective in developing the NII willbe to extend the Universal Service concept to the informationneeds of the American people in the 21st Century. As a matter offundamental fairness, this nation cannot accept a division of our

people among telecommunications or information "haves" and "have-nots." The Administration is committed to developing a broad,modern concept of Universal Service -- one that would emphasize


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giving all Americans who desire it easy, affordable access toadvanced communications and information services, regardless ofincome, disability, or location.

Devising and attaining a new goal for expanded UniversalService is consistent with efforts to spur infrastructuredevelopment by increasing competition in communications and

information markets. As noted above, competition can make lowcost, high quality services and equipment widely available.Policies promoting greater competition in combination withtargeted support for disadvantaged users or especially high costor rural areas would advance both rapid infrastructuremodernization and expanded Universal Service.

Action: Develop a New Concept of Universal Service. Togather information on the best characteristics of anexpanded concept of Universal Service, the CommerceDepartment's National Telecommunications and InformationAdministration (NTIA) will hold a series of public hearings

on Universal Service and the NII, beginning by December1993. The Administration will make a special effort to hearfrom public interest groups. Building on the knowledgegained from these activities, the IITF will work with theAdvisory Council on the National Information Infrastructure,as well as with state regulatory commissions, to determinehow the Universal Service concept should be applied in the21st Century.

3. Promote Technological Innovation and New Applications

Government regulatory, antitrust, tax, and intellectualproperty policies all affect the level and timing of new

offerings in services and equipment -- including the technologybase that generates innovations for the marketplace. Buttechnological innovations ultimately depend upon purposefulinvestment in research and development, by both the privatesector and government. R&D investment helps firms to createbetter products and services at lower costs.

As noted in the Administration's February 22, 1993technology policy statement: "We are moving to accelerate thedevelopment of technologies critical for long-term growth but notreceiving adequate support from private firms, either because thereturns are too distant or because the level of funding requiredis too great for individual firms to bear." Government researchsupport already has helped create basic information technologiesin computing, networking and electronics. We will supportfurther NII-related research and technology development throughresearch partnerships and other mechanisms to acceleratetechnologies where market mechanisms do not adequately reflectthe nation's return on investment. In particular, thesegovernment research and funding programs will focus on thedevelopment of beneficial public applications in the fields ofeducation, health care, manufacturing, and provision ofgovernment services.

Action: Continue the High-Performance Computing and

Communications Program. Established by the High-PerformanceComputing Act of 1991, the HPCC Program funds R&D designedto create more powerful computers, faster computer networks,


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and more sophisticated software. In addition, the HPCCProgram is providing scientists and engineers with the toolsand training they need to solve "Grand Challenges," researchproblems -- like designing new drugs -- that cannot besolved without the most powerful computers. TheAdministration has requested $1 billion for the HPCC Programin fiscal year 1994, and is in the process of forming a

"High-Performance Computing Advisory Committee," to provideprivate sector input on the Program.

We have also requested an additional $96 million in the FY1994 budget to create a new component of the HPCC Program --Information Infrastructure Technologies and Applications(IITA). The Administration is working with Congress toobtain authorization to fund this effort, which will developand apply high-performance computing and high-speednetworking technologies for use in the fields of healthcare, education, libraries, manufacturing, and provision ofgovernment information.

Action: Implement the NII Pilot Projects Program. In itsFY 94 budget, the Administration has requested funding fromthe Congress for NII networking pilot and demonstrationprojects. Under NTIA's direction, this pilot program willprovide matching grants to state and local governments,health care providers, school districts, libraries,universities, and other non-profit entities. The grantswill be awarded after a competitive merit review process andwill be used to fund projects to connect institutions toexisting networks, enhance communications networks that arecurrently operational, and permit users to interconnectamong different networks. Funded projects will demonstrate

the potential of the NII and provide tangible benefits totheir communities. Equally important, they will helpleverage the resources and creativity of the private sectorto devise new applications and uses of the NII. Thesuccesses of the these pilot projects will create aniterative process that will generate more innovativeapproaches each year.

Action: Inventory NII Applications Projects. Many insightscan be gained by sharing information about how governmentcan effectively use the NII. By the end of January 1994,the IITF will complete an inventory of current and plannedgovernment activities and will widely disseminate theresults through electronic and printed means. An electronicforum is being established to encourage government andprivate sector contributions and comments about governmentapplications projects.

4. Promote Seamless, Interactive, User-Driven Operation

Because the NII will be a network of networks, informationmust be transferable over the disparate networks easily,accurately, and without compromising the content of the messages.Moreover, the NII will be of maximum value to users if it issufficiently "open" and interactive so that users can develop new

services and applications or exchange information amongthemselves, without waiting for services to be offered by thefirms that operate the NII. In this way, users will develop new


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"electronic communities" and share knowledge and experiences thatcan improve the way that they learn, work, play, and participatein the American democracy.

To assure interoperability and openness of the manycomponents of an efficient, high-capacity NII, standards forvoice, video, data, and multi-media services must be developed.

Those standards also must be compatible with the large installedbase of communications technologies, and flexible and adaptableenough to meet user needs at affordable costs. The United Stateshas long relied on a consensus-based, voluntary standards-settingprocess in communications. Particularly in the area ofinformation and communications technology, where product cyclesare often measured in months, not years, the standards process iscritical and has not always worked to speed technologicalinnovation and serve end-users well. Government can catalyzethis industry-driven process by participating more actively inprivate-sector standards-writing bodies and by working withindustry to address strategic technical barriers to

interoperability and adoption of new technologies.

To increase the likelihood that the NII will be bothinteractive and, to a large extent, user-driven, government alsomust reform regulations and policies that may inadvertentlyhamper the development of interactive applications. For example,government regulations concerning the lack of reimbursement ofhealth care procedures may deter the growth of distance medicineapplications.

Action: Review and clarify the standards process to speedNII applications. By October 15, 1993 the CommerceDepartment's National Institute for Standards and Technology

(NIST) will establish a panel and work with otherappropriate agencies to review the government's involvementin establishing network requirements and standards withdomestic and international partners. The panel, with inputfrom the private sector and other levels of government, willconsider the role of the government in the standards processand will identify opportunities for accelerating thedeployment of the NII.

Action: Review and reform government regulations thatimpede development of interactive services and applications.The Administration will work closely with the privatesector, as well as state and local governments, to identifygovernment policies and regulations that may hinder thegrowth of interactive services and applications. The IITFwill determine how those regulations should be changed.

5. Ensure Information Security and Network Reliability

The trustworthiness and security of communications channelsand networks are essential to the success of the NII. Users mustbe assured that information transmitted over the infrastructurewill go when and where it is intended to go. Electronicinformation systems can create new vulnerabilities. For example,electronic files can be broken into and copied from remote

locations, and cellular phone conversations can be monitoredeasily. Yet these same systems, if properly designed, can offergreater security than less advanced communications channels.


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Through the use of information systems, gathering, sending,and receiving a wide variety of personal information is nowsimple, quick, and relatively inexpensive. The use ofinformation technologies to access, modify, revise, repackage,and resell information can benefit individuals, but unauthorizeduse can encroach on their privacy. While media reports often

emphasize the role of modern information technology in invadingprivacy, technology advances and enhanced management oversightalso offer the opportunity for privacy protection. Thisprotection is especially important to businesses thatincreasingly transmit sensitive proprietary data throughelectronic means. In a climate of tough global competitivenessto gain market advantage, the confidentiality of this informationcan spell the difference between business success or failure.

In addition, it is essential that the Federal governmentwork with the communications industry to reduce the vulnerabilityof the nation's information infrastructure. The NII must be

designed and managed in a way that minimizes the impact ofaccident or sabotage. The system must also continue to functionin the event of attack or catastrophic natural disaster.

Action: Review privacy concerns of the NII. The IITF hasdeveloped a work plan to investigate what policies arenecessary to ensure individual privacy, while recognizingthe legitimate societal needs for information, includingthose of law enforcement. The IITF has also developed awork plan to investigate how the government will ensure thatthe infrastructure's operations are compatible with thelegitimate privacy interests of its users.

Action: Review of encryption technology. In April, thePresident announced a thorough review of Federal policies onencryption technology. In addition, Federal agencies areworking with industry to develop new technologies thatprotect the privacy of citizens, while enabling lawenforcement agencies to continue to use court-authorizedwiretaps to fight terrorism, drug rings, organized crime,and corruption. Federal agencies are working with industryto develop encryption hardware and software that can be usedfor this application.

Action: Work with industry to increase network reliability.The National Communications System brings together 23Federal agencies with industry to reduce the vulnerabilityof the nation's telecommunications systems to accident,sabotage, natural disaster, or military attack. And theFederal Communications Commission has an industry and userNetwork Reliability Council to advise it on ensuring thereliability of the nation's commercial telecommunicationsnetworks. These efforts are increasingly important as thethreat posed by terrorism and computing hacking grows. TheNCS will continue its work and will coordinate with theIITF. In addition, the National Security TelecommunicationsAdvisory Committee, which advises the President incoordination with the NCS, as well as the FCC's Network

Reliability Council, will coordinate with and complement thework of the Advisory Council on the National InformationInfrastructure.


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6. Improve Management of the Radio Frequency Spectrum

Many of the dramatic changes expected from the developmentof the information infrastructure will grow out of advances inwireless technologies. The ability to access the resources ofthe NII at any time, from anywhere in the country, will be

constrained, however, if there is inadequate spectrum available.To ensure that spectrum scarcity does not impede the developmentof the NII, the Administration places a high priority onstreamlining its procedures for the allocation and use of thisvaluable resource.

Action: Streamline allocation and use of spectrum. TheAdministration is working with Congress to fully implementthe spectrum management provisions of the Omnibus Budget andReconciliation Act of 1993, to streamline government use ofspectrum and to get spectrum to the public efficiently.These provisions will provide greater flexibility in

spectrum allocation, including increased sharing of spectrumbetween private sector and government users, increasedflexibility in technical and service standards, andincreased choices for licensees in employing their assignedspectrum.

Action: Promote market principles in spectrum distribution.Further, the Administration will continue to supportpolicies that place a greater reliance on market principlesin distributing spectrum, particularly in the assignmentprocess, as a superior way to apportion this scarce resourceamong the widely differing wireless services that will be apart of the NII. At the same time, the Administration will

develop policies to ensure that entrepreneurs and small,rural, minority- and women-owned businesses are able toparticipate in spectrum auctions.

7. Protect Intellectual Property Rights

Development of an advanced information infrastructure willcreate unprecedented market opportunities and new challenges forour world-preeminent media and information industries. The broadpublic interest in promoting the dissemination of information toour citizens must be balanced with the need to ensure theintegrity of intellectual property rights and copyrights ininformation and entertainment products. This protection iscrucial if these products -- whether in the form of text, images,computer programs, databases, video or sound recordings, ormultimedia formats -- are to move in commerce using the fullcapability of the NII.

Action: Examine the adequacy of copyright laws. The IITFwill investigate how to strengthen domestic copyright lawsand international intellectual property treaties to preventpiracy and to protect the integrity of intellectualproperty. To ensure broad access to information via theNII, the IITF will study how traditional concepts of fairuse should apply with respect to new media and new works.

Action: Explore ways to identify and reimburse copyrightowners. The IITF will explore the need for standards for


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the identification of copyright ownership of informationproducts in electronic systems (e.g., electronic headers,labels or signature techniques). The Task Force will alsoevaluate the need to develop an efficient system for theidentification, licensing, and use of work, and for thepayment of royalties for copyrighted products delivered ormade available over electronic information systems.

8. Coordinate with Other Levels of Governmental and With OtherBodies

Domestic: Many of the firms that will likely participate inthe NII are now subject to regulation by Federal, state, andlocal government agencies. If the information infrastructure isto develop quickly and coherently, there must be closecoordination among the various government entities, particularlywith respect to regulatory policy. It is crucial that allgovernment bodies -- particularly Congress, the FCC, theAdministration, and state and local governments -- work

cooperatively to forge regulatory principles that will promotedeployment of the NII.

Action: Seek ways to improve coordination with state andlocal officials. The IITF will meet with state and localofficials to discuss policy issues related to development ofthe NII. The Task Force will also seek input from theprivate sector and non-federal agencies as it devisesproposals for regulatory reform. The Administration iscommitted to working closely with state and localgovernments in developing its telecommunications policies.

International: The NII also will develop in the context of

evolving global networks. Because customers typically demandthat U.S. communications providers offer services on a globalbasis, it is critical that the infrastructure within this countrycan meet international, as well as domestic, requirements.

Action: Open up overseas markets. The Administration hasshown its willingness to work directly on behalf of U.S.firms to ensure that they have an equal opportunity toexport telecommunications-related goods and services topotential overseas customers. For example, the CommerceDepartment is developing new export control policiesgoverning computers and telecommunications equipmentmanufactured by U.S. firms. These changes will removeexport restrictions on many of these products and permitU.S. manufacturers to enter new markets not previouslyavailable to them. The Administration will continue to workto open overseas markets for U.S. services and products.

Action: Eliminate barriers caused by incompatiblestandards. Equally important is the need to avoid tradebarriers raised by incompatible U.S. and foreign standardsor -- more subtly -- between the methods used to testconformance to standards. Through its participation ininternational standards committees, the Administration isworking to eliminate or avert such barriers.

Action: Examine international and U.S. trade regulations.The IITF will coordinate the Administration's examination of


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policy issues related to the delivery of telecommunicationsservices to and from the U.S., including claims by some U.S.companies that regulatory practices in foreign countries --including denial of market access for U.S. carriers and theimposition of excessive charges for completing calls fromthe United States -- are harming the competitiveness of theindustry and the costs charged to U.S. customers for

service. The IITF also will reexamine U.S. regulation ofinternational telecommunications services.

9. Provide Access to Government Information and ImproveGovernment Procurement

Thomas Jefferson said that information is the currency ofdemocracy. Federal agencies are among the most prolificcollectors and generators of information that is useful andvaluable to citizens and business. Improvement of the nation'sinformation infrastructure provides a tremendous opportunity toimprove the delivery of government information to the taxpayers

who paid for its collection; to provide it equitably, at a fairprice, as efficiently as possible.

The Federal government is improving every step of theprocess of information collection, manipulation, anddissemination. The Administration is funding research programsthat will improve the software used for browsing, searching,describing, organizing, and managing information. But it iscommitted as well to applying those tools to the distribution ofinformation that can be useful to the public in their variousroles as teachers, researchers, businesspeople, consumers, etc.

The key questions that must be addressed are: What

information does the public want? What information is inelectronic form? By what means can it be distributed? How canall Americans have access to it? A secondary question is: Howcan government itself improve through better informationmanagement?

Action: Improve the accessibility of governmentinformation. IITF working groups will carefully considerthe problems associated with making government informationbroadly accessible to the public electronically.Additionally, several inter-agency efforts have been startedto ensure that the right information is stored andavailable. Finally, to help the public find governmentinformation, an inter-agency project has been formed todevelop a virtual card catalogue that will indicate theavailability of government information in whatever form ittakes.

Action: Upgrade the infrastructure for the delivery ofgovernment information. The Federal government has alreadytaken a number of steps to promote wider distribution of itspublic reports. Legislation has been enacted to improveelectronic dissemination of government documents by theGovernment Printing Office. A number of Federal agencieshave moved aggressively to convert their public information

into electronic form and disseminate it over the Internet,where it will be available to many more people than havepreviously had access to such information. In the future,


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substantial improvements will be made to "FedWorld," anelectronic bulletin board established by the Department ofCommerce's National Technical Information Service (NTIS),which links the public with more than 100 Federal bulletinboards and information centers. These improvements willenhance FedWorld's ability to distribute to the publicscientific, technical, and business-related information

generated by the U.S. Government and other sources.Finally, a conference will be held in the Fall of 1993 tobegin teaching Federal employees how they can use thesedistribution mechanisms.

Action: Enhance citizen access to government information.In June 1993, OMB prescribed new polices pertaining to theacquisition, use, and distribution of government informationby Federal agencies. Among other things, the policiesmandate that, in distributing information to the public,Federal agencies should recoup only those costs associatedwith the dissemination of that information, not with its

creation or collection. Moreover, a number of inter-agencyefforts are under way to afford greater public access togovernment information. One project seeks to turn thousandsof local and field offices of various Federal agencies intoInteractive Citizen Participation Centers, at which citizenscan communicate with the public affairs departments of allFederal agencies.

Action: Strengthen inter-agency coordination through theuse of electronic mail. To implement the NationalPerformance Review's recommendation on expanded use ofelectronic mail within the Federal government, an inter-agency coordinating body has been established to incorporate

electronic mail into the daily work environment of Federalworkers. The group is also sponsoring three pilot projectsto expand connectivity that will build a body of experiencethat other Federal agencies can draw on when they begin touse electronic mail.

Action: Reform the Federal procurement process to makegovernment a leading-edge technology adopter. The Federalgovernment is the largest single buyer of high technologyproducts. The government has played a key role indeveloping emerging markets for advanced technologies ofmilitary significance; it can be similarly effective forcivilian technologies. The Administration will implementthe procurement policy reforms set forth in the NationalPerformance Review report.

VI. America's Destiny is Linked to our InformationInfrastructure

The principles and goals outlined in this document provide ablueprint for government action on the NII. Applying them willensure that government provides constructive assistance to U.S.industry, labor, academia and private citizens as they develop,deploy and use the infrastructure.

The potential benefits for the nation are immense. The NIIwill enable U.S. firms to compete and win in the global economy,


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generating good jobs for the American people and economic growthfor the nation. As importantly, the NII promises to transformthe lives of the American people. It can ameliorate theconstraints of geography and economic status, and give allAmericans a fair opportunity to go as far as their talents andambitions will take them.


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TAB C


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BENATIONAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE

The development of the National Information Infrastructureis not an end in itself; it is a means by which the United Statescan achieve a broad range of economic and social goals. Although

the NII is not a "silver bullet" for all of the problems we face,it can make an important contribution to our most pressingeconomic and social challenges.

This infrastructure can be used by all Americans, not justby scientists and engineers. As entrepreneurs, factory workers,doctors, teachers, federal employees, and citizens, Americans canharness this technology to:

o Create jobs, spur growth, and foster U.S. technologicalleadership;

o Reduce health care costs while increasing the qualityof service in underserved areas;

o Deliver higher-quality, lower-cost government services;

o Prepare our children for the fast-paced workplace ofthe 21st century; and

o Build a more open and participatory democracy at alllevels of government.

This is not a far-fetched prediction. As shown below, ourcurrent information infrastructure is already making a difference

in the lives of ordinary Americans, and we have just begun to tapits potential.

ECONOMIC BENEFITS

The National Information Infrastructure will help createhigh-wage jobs, stimulate economic growth, enable new productsand services, and strengthen America's technological leadership.Whole new industries will be created, and the infrastructure willbe used in ways we can only begin to imagine. Below are some ofthe potential benefits to the U.S. economy:

1. Increased economic growth and productivity

o The Computer Systems Policy Project estimates that theNII will "create as much as $300 billion annually innew sales across a range of industries."

o The Economic Strategy Institute concluded thataccelerated deployment of the NII would increase GDP by$194 - $321 billion to GNP by the year 2007, andincrease productivity by 20 to 40 percent.

2. Job creation

Although there are no definitive estimates for the total


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number of U.S. jobs the deployment of the NII will create, it isclear that it has the potential to create hundreds of thousandsof jobs. For example:

o Industry experts believe that the PersonalCommunications Services industry, a new family ofwireless services, could create as many as 300,000 jobs

in the next 10-15 years. The development of thisindustry will be accelerated by the EmergingTelecommunications Technology Act, which was signed byPresident Clinton as part of the budget package.

3. Technological leadership

The NII will serve as the driver for a wide variety oftechnologies, such as semiconductors, high-speed networking,advanced displays, software, and human/computer interfaces suchas speech recognition.

This technology will be used to create exciting new productsand services, strengthening U.S. leadership in the electronicsand information technology sector. For example, experts envisionthe production of powerful computers that will be held in thepalm of our hand, "as mobile as a watch and as personal as awallet, ... [they] will recognize speech, navigate streets, takenotes, keep schedules, collect mail, manage money, open the doorand start the car, among other computer functions we cannotimagine today."


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4. Regional, state, and local economic development

In today's knowledge-based, global economy in which capitaland technology are increasingly mobile, the quality of America'sinformation infrastructure will help determine whether companiesinvest here or overseas. States and regions increasinglyrecognize that development of their information infrastructure is

key to creating jobs and attracting new businesses:

o In May 1993, Governor Jim Hunt announced the creationof the North Carolina Information Highway, a network offiber optics and advanced switches capable oftransmitting the entire 33-volume EncyclopediaBritannica in 4.7 seconds. This network, which will bedeployed in cooperation with BellSouth, GTE, andCarolina Telephone, is a key element of NorthCarolina's economic development strategy.

o In California's Silicon Valley, academics, business

executives, government officials, and private citizensare working together to build an "advanced informationinfrastructure and the collective ability to use it."A non-profit organization, Smart Valley Inc., will helpdevelop the information infrastructure and itsapplications. Many business applications areenvisioned, including desktop videoconferencing, rapiddelivery of parts designs to fabrication shops, designof chips on remote supercomputers, electronic commerce,and telecommuting.

o The Council of Great Lakes Governors has developed aregional telecommunications initiative, which includes

creating an open data network as a first step towardscreation of a Great Lakes Information Highway,promoting access in rural areas, developing a set oftelecommunications service goals and a time table forachieving them, and developing a computerized inventoryof each state's advanced telecommunicationsinfrastructure.

5. Electronic commerce

Electronic commerce (e.g., on-line parts catalogues, multi-media mail, electronic payment, brokering services, collaborativeengineering) can dramatically reduce the time required to design,manufacture, and market new products. "Time to market" is acritical success factor in today's global marketplace.commerce will also strengthen the relationships betweenmanufacturer, suppliers, and joint developers. In today'smarketplace, it is not unusual to have 12 or more companiescollaborating to develop and manufacture new products.

HEALTH CARE

The NII can help solve America's health care crisis. The

Clinton Administration is committed to health care reform thatwill ensure that Americans will never again lose their healthcare coverage and that controls skyrocketing health care costs.


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The costs of doing nothing are prohibitive:

o Since 1980, our nation's health care costs havequadrupled. Between 1980 and 1992, health expendituresshot up from 9 percent to 14 percent of GDP; undercurrent policies, they will hit 19 percent by the year2000. Health care cost increases will eat up more than

half of the new federal revenue expected over the nextfour years.

o Twenty-five cents out of every dollar on a hospitalbill goes to administrative costs and does not buy anypatient care. The number of health care administratorsis increasing four times faster than the number ofdoctors.

These problems will not be solved without comprehensivehealth care reform. Better use of information technology and thedevelopment of health care applications for the NII, however, can

make an important contribution to reform. Experts estimate thattelecommunications applications could reduce health care costs by$36 to $100 billion each year while improving quality andincreasing access. Below are some of the existing and potentialapplications:

1. Telemedicine: By using telemedicine, doctors and other caregivers can consult with specialists thousands of miles away;continually upgrade their education and skills; and sharemedical records and x-rays.

Example: In Texas, over 70 hospitals, primarily in ruralareas, have been forced to close since 1984. The Texas

Telemedicine Project in Austin, Texas offers interactivevideo consultation to primary care physicians in ruralhospitals as a way of alleviating the shortage ofspecialists in rural areas. This trial is increasing thequality of care in rural areas and providing at least 14percent savings by cutting patient transfer costs andprovider travel.

2. Unified Electronic Claims: More than 4 billion health careclaims are submitted annually from health care providers toreimbursement organizations such as insurance companies,Medicare, Medicaid, and HMOs. Moreover, there are 1500different insurance companies in the United States usingmany different claims forms. The administrative costs ofthe U.S. health care system could be dramatically reduced bymoving towards standardized electronic submission andprocessing of claims.

3. Personal Health Information Systems: The United States canuse computers and networks to promote self care andprevention by making health care information available 24hours a day in a form that aids decision making. Mostpeople do not have the tools necessary to become an activeand informed participant in their own health care. As aresult, far too many people (estimates range from 50 to 80

percent) entering the health care system do not really needa physician's care. Many improperly use the system by, forexample, using the emergency room for a cold or back strain.


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Many of those who end up with serious health problems enterthe health care system too late, and thus require moreextensive and costly therapy. Michael McDonald, chairman ofthe Communications and Computer Applications in PublicHealth (CCAPH), estimates that even if personal healthinformation systems were used only 25 to 35 percent of thetime, $40 to $60 billion could be saved.

Example: InterPractice Systems, a joint venture of HarvardCommunity Health Plan in Boston and Electronic Data Systems,has placed terminals in the homes of heavy users of healthcare, such as the elderly, pregnant women, and families withyoung children. Based on a patient's symptoms and theirmedical history, an electronic advice system makesrecommendations to HCHP's members about using self care,talking with a doctor, or scheduling an appointment. In oneinstance, "an 11-year old who regularly played with theterminal heard his father complain one day of chest painsand turned to the system for help; it diagnosed the symptoms

as a probable heart attack. The diagnosis was correct."

4. Computer-Based Patient Records: The Institute of Medicinehas concluded that Computer-Based Patient Records arecritical to improving the quality and reducing the cost ofhealth care. Currently:

o 11 percent of laboratory tests must be re-orderedbecause of lost results;

o 30 percent of the time, the treatment ordered is notdocumented at all;

o 40 percent of the time a diagnosis isn't recorded; and

o 30 percent of the time a medical record is completelyunavailable during patient visits.

CIVIC NETWORKINGTECHNOLOGY IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST

The benefits of the NII extend far beyond economic growth.As the Center for Civic Networking observed,

"A country that works smarter; enjoys efficient, less costlygovernment, guided by a well-informed citizenry; thatproduces high quality jobs and educated citizens to fillthem; that paves a road away from poverty; that promoteslife-long learning, public life and the cultural life of ourcommunities. This is the promise of the NationalInformation Infrastructure."

The NII could be used to create an "electronic commons" andpromote the public interest in the following ways:

1. Community Access Networks: Grass-roots networks arespringing up all over the country, providing citizens with a


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wide range of information services. The NationalInformation Infrastructure should expand a citizen'scapacity for action in local institutions, as it must honorregional differences and the cultural diversity of America'sheritage.

Example: The Heartland FreeNet in Peoria, Illinois provides

a wide range of community information to the citizens ofCentral Illinois 24 hours a day. Topics covered include 113areas of social services; a year long community calendar;the American Red Cross; current listings from the IllinoisJob Service; resources for local businesses; and localgovernment information. Experts in all fields from law tothe Red Cross to chemical dependency volunteer their timeand expertise to answer questions anonymously asked by thepublic.

Example: The Big Sky Telegraph began operation in 1988 asan electronic bulletin board system linking Montana's 114

one-room schools to each other and to Western MontanaCollege. Today, the Big Sky Telegraph enables the formationof "virtual communities" -- linking schools, libraries,county extension services, women's centers, and hospitals.Montana's high-school students learning Russian can nowcommunicate with Russian students, and science students areparticipating in a course on "chaos theory" offered by MIT.

2. Dissemination of government information: The free flow ofinformation between the government and the public isessential to a democratic society. Improvements in theNational Information Infrastructure provide a tremendousopportunity to improve the delivery of government

information to the taxpayers who paid for its collection; toprovide it equitably, at a fair price, as equitably aspossible.

Example: Some of the most powerful examples of the powerinherent in information collection and dissemination comefrom the experience of Federal agencies. For example, theEmergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986established a Toxic Release Inventory (TRI), which requiredindustries to report their estimated total releases of toxicchemicals to the environment. The Environmental ProtectionAgency has used a variety of means for making the dataavailable to the public, including a collaborative effortinvolving the agency, the nonprofit community, andphilanthropy. This effort involved making the TRI availablethrough an online service called RTK NET (the Right-to-KnowComputer Network), operated by OMB Watch and UnisonInstitute.

As a result of the TRI program, EPA and industry developedthe "33/50" program, in which CEOs set a goal of reducingtheir pollution by 33 percent by 1992 and 50 percent by1995. Because of RTK NET's success, EPA is seeking toexpand the information available on the service.

3. Universal access: The NII must be used to bring Americanstogether, as opposed to allowing a further polarizationbetween information "haves" and "have nots."


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Example: As part of a recent cable franchise negotiation,fiber optic cable was deployed in Harlem, where 40 percentof the residents live below the poverty line. New York Cityis exploring the use of interactive video conferencingbetween community rooms in housing projects and governmentoffices, schools, and New York corporations. These

facilities could be used to teach parenting to teenagemothers, and promote mentoring programs between inner cityyouth and employees of New York corporations.

RESEARCH

One of the central objectives of the High PerformanceComputing and Communications Initiative (HPCCI) is to increasethe productivity of the research community and enable scientistsand engineers to tackle "Grand Challenges," such as forecasting

the weather, building more energy-efficient cars, designing life-saving drugs, and understanding how galaxies are formed.

As a result of advances in computing and networkingtechnologies promoted by the HPCCI, America's scientists andengineers (and their colleagues and peers around the world) areable to solve fundamental problems that would have beenimpossible to solve in the past. U.S. researchers will continueto benefit from the HPCCI and the emerging National InformationInfrastructure. Below are just a few of the ways in which thistechnology is being used by U.S. researchers:

1. Solving Grand Challenges: As a result of investments in

high performance computers, software, and high-speednetworks, researchers have access to more and morecomputational resources. As a result, scientists andengineers have been able to more accurately model theEarth's climate; design and simulate next-generationaircraft (the High Speed Civil Transport); improve detectionof breast cancer by turning two-dimensional MRI images intothree-dimensional views; and enhance the recovery of oil andgas from America's existing reservoirs.

2. Enabling remote access to scientific instruments: Becauseof advancements in networks and visualization software,scientists can control and share remote electronmicroscopes, radio telescopes, and other scientificinstruments.

3. Supporting scientific collaboration: The Internet hasallowed scientists in the United States and around the worldto access databases, share documents, and communicate withcolleagues. For example, one computer language wasdeveloped by 60 people in industry, government and academiaover a period of 3 years with only two days of face-to-facemeetings. Instead, project participants sent 3,000 e-mailmessages to each other, dramatically reducing the timerequired to develop the language. As scientific research

becomes increasingly complex and interdisciplinary,scientists see the need to develop "collaboratories,"centers without walls in which "the nations' researchers can


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perform their research without regard to geographicallocation -- interacting with colleagues, accessinstrumentation, sharing data and computational resources,[and] accessing information in digital libraries."

LIFE-LONG LEARNING

Increasingly, what we earn depends on what we learn.Americans must be well-educated and well-trained if we arecompete internationally and enjoy a healthy democracy. Themagnitude of the challenge we face is well-known:

o 25 percent of students nation-wide no longer completehigh-school, a figure which rises to 57 percent in somelarge cities.

o Currently, 90 million adults in the United States do

not have the literacy skills they need to function inour increasingly complex society.

The Clinton Administration has set ambitious national goalsfor lifelong learning. The "Goals 2000: Educate America Act"would make six education goals part of national policy: 90percent high school graduation rate; U.S. dominance in math andscience; total adult literacy; safe and drug-free schools;increased competency in challenging subjects; and having everychild enter school "ready to learn." Secretary of Labor RobertReich also has emphasized the need to move towards "new work."New work requires problem-solving as opposed to rote repetition,upgrading worker skills, and empowering front-line workers to

continuously improve products and services. All of theAdministration's policy initiatives (national skill standards,school-to-work transition, training for displaced workers) areaimed at promoting the transition towards high-wage, higher-value"new work."

Although technology alone can not fix what is wrong withAmerica's education and training system, the NII can help.Studies have shown that computer-based instruction is cost-effective, enabling 30% percent more learning in 40% less time at30% less cost. Fortune recently reported that:

"From Harlem to Honolulu, electronic networks are sparkingthe kind of excitement not seen in America's classroomssince the space race ... In scores of programs and pilotprojects, networks are changing the way teachers teach andstudents learn."

The United States has just begun to exploit the educationalapplications of computers and networks. Students and teacherscan use the NII to promote collaborative learning betweenstudents, teachers, and experts; access on-line "digitallibraries"; and take "virtual" field trips to museums andscience exhibits without leaving the classroom.

Example: Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts andfunded by the National Science Foundation, the GlobalLaboratory Project links students from over 101 schools in


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27 states and 17 foreign countries, including Japan, SaudiArabia, Russia and Argentina. All over the world, studentsestablish environmental monitoring stations to study climatechange, monitor pollutants such as pesticides and heavymetals, and measure ultraviolet radiation. Students sharetheir data over the Global Lab telecommunications networkwith each other and with scientists to make comparisons,

conduct analyses, and gain a global perspective onenvironmental problems.

Example: In Texas, the Texas Education Network (TENET) nowserves over 25,000 educators, and is making the resources ofthe Internet available to classrooms. One Texas educatorfrom a small school district described the impact it washaving on the learning experiences of children:

"The smaller districts can now access NASA, leavemessages for the astronauts, browse around in librarieslarger than ever they will ever be able to visit,

discuss the Superconducting Supercollider project withthe physicist in charge, discuss world ecology withstudents in countries around the world, read world andnational news that appears in newspapers that are notavailable in their small towns, work on projects asequals and collaborators with those in urban areas, andchange the way they feel about the size of their world.This will create students that we could not createotherwise. This is a new education and instruction."

As computers become more powerful and less expensive,students may eventually carry hand-held, computer-based"intelligent tutors," or learn in elaborate simulated

environments. One expert predicted the following educational useof virtual reality:

"Imagine a biology student entering an immersive virtuallaboratory environment that includes simulated molecules.The learner can pick up two molecules and attempt to fitthem together, exploring docking sites. In addition to thethree-dimensional images in the head-mounted display, thegesture gloves on his hands press back to provide feedbackto his sense of touch. Alternatively, the student canexpand a molecule to the size of a large building and flyaround in it, examining the internal structure."

CREATING A GOVERNMENT THATWORKS BETTER & COSTS LESS

The Vice President Gore's National Performance Review (NPR)provides a bold vision of a federal government which iseffective, efficient and responsive. Moving from red tape toresults will require sweeping changes: emphasizing accountabilityfor achieving results as opposed to following rules; puttingcustomers first; empowering employees; and reengineering how

government agencies do their work. As part of this vision, theNPR emphasizes the importance of information technology as a toolfor reinventing government:


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"With computers and telecommunications, we need not dothings as we have in the past. We can design a customer-driven electronic government that operates in ways that, 10years ago, the most visionary planner could not haveimagined."

The NPR has identified a number of ways in which "electronicgovernment" can improve the quality of government services whilecutting costs, some of which are described below:

1. Develop a nationwide system to deliver government benefitselectronically: The government can cut costs through"electronic benefits transfer" for programs such as federalretirement, social security, unemployment insurance, AFDC,and food stamps. For example, 3 billion Food Stamps areprinted and distributed to over 10 million households.Estimates suggest that $1 billion could be saved over fiveyears once electronic benefits for food stamps is fully

implemented.

2. Develop integrated electronic access to governmentinformation and services: Currently, citizen access tofederal government information is uncoordinated and notcustomer-friendly. Electronic kiosks and computer bulletinboards can result in quick response, complete information,and an end to telephone tag.

Example: Info/California is a network of kiosks inplaces like libraries and shopping malls. Californianscan use these touch-screen computers to renew vehicleregistration, register for employment openings, and get

information on 90 different subjects, such as applyingfor student loans or resolving tenant-landlorddisputes. These kiosks have reduced the cost of job-match services from $150 to $40 per person.


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3. EstablishWhether responding to natural or technological disasters, orperforming search and rescue or interdiction activities,federal, state, and local law enforcement and public safetyworkers must be able to communicate with each othereffectively, efficiently, and securely. Currently, federal,state and local law enforcement agencies have radio systems

which can not communicate with each other because theyoccupy different parts of the spectrum.

4. Demonstrate and Provide Governmentwide Electronic Mail:Government-wide e-mail can provide rapid communicationsamong individuals and groups, break down barriers toinformation flows between and within agencies, allow bettermanagement of complex interagency projects, and permit morecommunication between government officials and the public.


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TAB D


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THE INFORMATION INFRAST

Mission

While the private sector will build and run virtually all ofthe National Information Infrastructure (NII), the President and

the Vice President have stated clearly that the Federalgovernment has a key leadership role to play in its development.Accordingly, the White House formed the InformationInfrastructure Task Force (IITF) to articulate and implement theAdministration's vision for the NII. The task force consists ofhigh-level representatives of the Federal agencies that play amajor role in the development and application of informationtechnologies. Working together with the private sector, theparticipating agencies will develop comprehensivetelecommunications and information policies that best meet theneeds of both the agencies and the country. By helping buildconsensus on thorny policy issues, the IITF will enable agencies

to make and implement policy more quickly and effectively.

A high-level Advisory Council on the National InformationInfrastructure has been established by Executive Order toprovide advice to the IITF. It will consist of representativesof the many different stakeholders in the NII, includingindustry, labor, academia, public interest groups, and state andlocal governments. The Secretary of Commerce will appoint the 25members of the advisory committee.

The IITF is working closely with the High PerformanceComputing, Communications, and Information Technology (HPCCIT)Subcommittee of the Federal Coordinating Council for Science,

Engineering, and Technology (FCCSET), which is chaired by theWhite House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The HPCCITSubcommittee provides technical advice to the IITF andcoordinates Federal research activities that support developmentof the National Information Infrastructure.

Membership

All the key agencies involved in telecommunications andinformation policy are represented on the task force. The taskforce operates under the aegis of the White House Office ofScience and Technology Policy and the National Economic Council.Ron Brown, the Secretary of Commerce, chairs the IITF, and muchof the staff work for the task force will be done by the NationalTelecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of theDepartment of Commerce.

Structure

To date, three committees of the IITF have been established:

(1) Telecommunications Policy Committee, which will formulate aconsistent Administration position on key telecommunicationsissues, is chaired by Larry Irving, head of the National

Telecommunications and Information Administration of theDepartment of Commerce. Recently, the Committee created:


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The Working Group on Universal Service, which will work toensure that all Americans have access to and can enjoy thebenefits of the National Information Infrastructure.

(2) Information Policy Committee, which is addressing criticalinformation policy issues that must be addressed if the NationalInformation Infrastructure is to be fully deployed and utilized.

Sally Katzen, head of the Office of Information and RegulatoryAffairs at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), chairs theCommittee. The Committee has created three working groups:

The Working Group on Intellectual Property Rights, todevelop proposals for protecting copyrights and other IPR inan electronic world. Bruce Lehman, head of the Patent andTrademark Office of the Department of Commerce, chairs thisgroup.

The Working Group on Privacy, to design Administrationpolicies to protect individual privacy despite the rapid

increase in the collection, storage, and dissemination ofpersonal data in electronic form. It is chaired by PatFaley, Acting Director of the Office of Consumer Affairs,Department of Health and Human Services.

The Working Group on Government Information focuses on waysto promote dissemination of government data in electronicform. Bruce McConnell, OMB's Office of Information andRegulatory Affairs, chairs this group.

(3) Applications Committee, which coordinates Administrationefforts to develop, demonstrate, and promote applications ofinformation technology in manufacturing, education, health care,

government services, libraries, and other areas. This groupworks closely with the High-Performance Computing andCommunications Program, which is funding development of newapplications technologies, to determine how Administrationpolicies can best promote the deployment of such technologies.Arati Prabhakar, Director of the National Institute of Standardsand Technology, chairs the committee. This committee isresponsible for implementing many of the recommendations of theVice President's National Performance Review that pertain toinformation technology. So far, the Committee has created oneworking group:

The Working Group on Government Information TechnologyServices (GITS) will coordinate efforts to improve theapplication of information technology by Federal agencies.


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TAB E


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UNITED STATES ADVISORON THE NATIONAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE

o The President will sign an Executive Order creating the"United States Advisory Council on the National Information

Infrastructure" to facilitate private sector input to theInformation Infrastructure Task Force. The IITF, which ischaired by the Secretary of Commerce, will work withCongress and the private sector to propose the policies andinitiatives needed to accelerate deployment of the NII.

o The Council will consist of not more than 25 senior-levelindividuals to be named by the Secretary of Commerce thisyear. A chair and/or vice chair will be appointed by theSecretary from among the Council members.

o Nominations will be solicited from a variety of NII

constituencies and interest groups. The IITF and itscommittees also will use other mechanisms to solicit publicinput to ensure that it hears the views of all interestedparties.

o The Council will be broadly representative of the keyconstituencies impacted by the NII, including business,labor, academia, public interest groups, and state and localgovernments.

o The Council shall advise the IITF on matters related to thedevelopment of the NII, such as: the appropriate roles ofthe private and public sectors in NII development; a vision

for the evolution of the NII and its public and commercialapplications; the impact of current and proposed regulatoryregimes on the evolution of the NII; privacy, security, andcopyright issues; national strategies for maximizinginterconnection and interoperability of communicationsnetworks; and universal access.

o The Council is expected to invite experts to submitinformation to the Council and form subcommittees of theCouncil to review specific issues.

o The Department of Commerce will act as "secretariat" for theCouncil, providing administrative services, facilities,staff and other support services.

o The Council will exist for two years unless its charter isextended.

o The Council will be separate from, and complementary to, theHigh Performance Computing Advisory Committee, which will beestablished to provide private sector input on the HighPerformance Computing and Communications Initiative.


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NII ACCOMPLISHMENTS

During its first seven months, the Clinton-GoreAdministration has taken major steps to make its vision of theNational Information Infrastructure a reality:

1. Freeing up spectrum to create information "skyways":

o The President recently signed the EmergingTelecommunications Technology Act, which directs theSecretary of Commerce to transfer, over a ten-yearperiod, at least 200 MHz of spectrum now used byfederal agencies to the FCC for subsequent licensing tothe private sector. It allows the FCC to usecompetitive bidding to grant new license assignmentsfor spectrum.

o This will create high-tech jobs and accelerate the

development of new wireless industries such as PersonalCommunications Services. The entire cellular industry,which has created 100,000 jobs, was created bylicensing only 50 MHz of spectrum.

2. Reinventing Government:

o The Administration is committed to using "electronicgovernment" to ensure that the federal government worksbetter and costs less.

o As part of the National Performance Review, the VicePresident has identified a number of concrete ways to

use information technology to cut costs and improveservices, such as electronic benefits transfer; accessto government information and services throughelectronic "kiosks"; a national law enforcement/publicsafety network; and electronic procurement.

3. Investing in technology:

The President's FY 1994 budget includes:

o $1.1 billion for the High-Performance Computing andCommunications Initiative, including a new $100 millionprogram to develop applications in areas such aseducation, manufacturing, health, and digitallibraries. The House has passed legislation whichwould authorize these new programs; Senate action isexpected in the fall of 1993.

o $50 million for NTIA grants to demonstrate theapplications of the NII for non-profit institutionssuch as schools, hospitals, and libraries.

o $40 million for research by the Department of Energy'sNational Labs on the information infrastructure.

The ARPA-led Technology Reinvestment Project (TRP), fundedat $472 million in FY 1993, has generated almost 3,000 proposalsfrom the private sector, requesting a total of $8.5 billion.


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Many of these proposals are for technology development for theNational Information Infrastructure and its applications inhealth care, manufacturing, electronic commerce, and educationand training. The President recently endorsed increasing thefunding of the TRP to $600 million for FY 1994.

4. Making government information more available to citizens:

o The Office of Management and Budget issued a new policyin June (OMB Circular A-130) to encourage agencies toincrease citizen access to public information.

o Also in June, the President and Vice Presidentannounced that the White House would be accessible tothe public via electronic mail. The Administration isusing on-line information services and the Internet tomake available speeches, press briefings, executiveorders, and a summary of the budget.

5. Creating the right environment for private sector investmentin the National Information Infrastructure:

o The President has signed into law tax incentives forprivate sector investment in R&D and new businessformation, including a three-year extension of the R&Dcredit and a targeted capital gains reduction forinvestments in small businesses. Both of these taxincentives will help spur the private sector investmentneeded to develop the National InformationInfrastructure.


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TAB G


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ADMINISTRATION NII INFORMATI

To submit comments on "The National Information Infrastructure:Agenda for Action" or to request additional copies of thispackage:

Write: NTIA NII Office15th Street and Constitution AvenueWashington, D.C. 20230

Call: 202-482-1840Fax: 202-482-1635Internet: [email protected]

To obtain copies of this package electronically see instructionson next page.

Key Administration Contacts:

Ronald H. Brown, Secretary of CommerceChair, Information Infrastructure Task Force15th Street and Constitution Avenue, NWWashington, D.C. 20230phone: 202-482-3934fax: 202-482-4576internet: [email protected] Irving, Assisant Secretary for Communications andInformation, Director, National Telecommunications andInformation Administration, Chair, IITF Telecommuni-cationsPolicy Committee15th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20230phone: 202-482-1840fax: 202-482-1635internet: [email protected]

Arati Prabhakar, Director, National Institute of Standards andTechnology, Chair, IITF Applications CommitteeNIST, Administration Building, Room A1134Gaithersburg, MD. 20899phone: 301-975-2300fax: 301-869-8972internet: [email protected]

Sally Katzen, Administrator, Office of Information and RegulatoryAffairs, Office of Management and Budget, Chair, IITFInformation Policy CommitteeNew Executive Office Building, Room 350Washington, D.C. 20503phone: 202-395-4852fax: 202-395-3047

Mike Nelson, Special Assistant, Information Technology, Office ofScience and TechnologyOld Executive Office Building, Room 423

Washington, D.C. 20500phone: 202-395-6175fax: 202-395-4155


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internet: [email protected]

Tom Kalil, Director of Science and TechnologyNational Economic CouncilOld Executive Office Building, Room 233Washington, D.C. 20500phone: 202-456-2801

fax: 202-456-2223internet: [email protected]

Donald Lindberg, Director,HPCC National Coordination OfficeNational Library of Medicine8600 Rockville PikeBethesda, MD. 20894phone: 301-402-4100fax: 301-402-4080internet: [email protected]

Press contact:Carol Hamilton, Deputy Director, Office of Public Affairs,Department of Commercephone: 202-482-6001fax: 202-482-6027internet: [email protected]

The package is available in ASCII format from a variety ofelectronic sources including the following:

1. Internet The package is available in ASCII format throughboth FTP and Gopher. The name of the file is

"niiagenda.asc". Access information and directories aredescribed below.

FTP:Address: ftp.ntia.doc.govLogin as "anonymous". Use your email address or guestas the password. Change directory to "pub".

Address: enh.nist.govLogin as "anonymous" using "guest" as the password.

Address: isdres.er.usgs.govLogin as "anonymous". Use your email address or "guest"as the password. Change directory to npr.

The package also may be present in a self extractingcompressed file named "niiagend.exe". Remember toissue the binary command before "getting" thecompressed file.

Gopher (server/client):Telnet to: gopher.nist.govlogin as "gopher". Choose the menu item "DOCDocuments". Choose "niiagenda.asc".

Gopher to: ace.esusda.gov, port 70Select:6. Americans Communicating Electronically

The National Information Infrastructure-Agenda for Action

Documents

Transcript of The National Information Infrastructure-Agenda for Action